Software Layout #2 Tutorial

Create a new document 810×610 pixels with a white background. Select your “rectangular marquee tool” and draw out a rectangle about 800pixels wide leaving two 5 pixel gaps either side. Place at the top of your canvas. Fill with a gradient using two shades of light blue.

Add a “2 pixel stroke” using the color #3b6a9a. Holding “ctrl” on the keyboard click on your rectangle layer, then make a new layer above it. Fill with a pattern of your choice, if you dont know how to make patterns i suggest you do my custom patterns tutorial. Fill your header with your pattern and add a layer mask so it blends in at the top. Heres how my header looks at this stage.

Now lets add some text, grab your type tool and type your slogan and site title.

Now lets add some buttons, select the “rounded rectangle tool” and draw a small rectangle fill with any color as this will change in a minute.

Add these layer styles to your button.

Your button should now look like this.

Duplicate your button as many times as needed, label them and place under your header like so.

Now hide all your layers apart from your buttons, then goto “layer > merge visable”UNHIDE everything, then select your buttons layer which should all be on one now layer now they’be been merged. Duplicate them then goto “edit > transform > flip vertical”, place your buttons just underneath the original ones creating a mirror image. Add a layer mask to your mirrored buttons and set opacity to about 50%. You should have something like this.